Every government portal an importer uses in India: what you do on each, how to log in and where applications get stuck

Most electronics importers need four portals for themselves (DGFT, ICEGATE, CPCB and Legal Metrology) and two or three more depending on the product (Saral Sanchar, MTCTE, BEE). The BIS portals are mainly used by the factory, but the importer often works on them as the Authorised Indian Representative.

Start with DGFT, because almost everything else asks for your IEC. ICEGATE needs it during registration^[21], and the DGFT portal itself lets you register a digital signature only after you have applied for or linked an IEC^[2].

Have a Class 2 or Class 3 digital signature, the firm's PAN and GSTIN, and an email and mobile number you will keep. Several portals tie your identity to these, and changing them later is slow.

You get and maintain your Importer Exporter Code, and apply for any restricted-import authorisation. The IEC is auto-generated after you submit ANF-2A and pay the Rs 500 fee^[1][32]. It is then transmitted to Customs, and the portal shows a "CBIC Transmission Status"^[2].

The yearly job is the April-to-June update, which is free^[32]; an IEC not updated is de-activated^[33]. Changes in address, bank or constitution must be updated within 30 days^[1]. Restricted imports need the profile linked to an IEC and a registered DSC^[34]. Full walkthrough: DGFT portal.

ICEGATE is Customs' national trade portal, where Bills of Entry are filed and duty is paid^[3]. Registration is a prerequisite for filing customs documents online^[3], though most small importers file through a customs broker who has its own role on the portal^[21].

Registration has five sections and is normally processed in 3-4 working days^[21][3]. Supporting documents for each Bill of Entry go up through eSanchit^[35], and IEC-GSTIN mapping takes up to 24 hours to reflect^[36]. Full walkthrough: ICEGATE.

crsbis.in handles CRS for electronics, Manakonline handles ISI-mark licences for Indian and foreign factories, and LIMS links both to the labs. A test request generated on crsbis.in reaches the chosen lab through LIMS^[37], and labs accept CRS samples only with that online request^[38].

On crsbis.in, the sample and test request must reach the lab within 60 days of generating the request^[5], the report must be under 90 days old when BIS receives the application^[39], and the notarised affidavit must arrive by post within 30 days^[40]. See the BIS CRS portal guide and CRS application checklist.

On Manakonline, the applicant fills the organisation profile, picks the Indian Standard and chooses the normal or simplified procedure^[41]. FMCS has its own login^[15]. Licences more than 90 days past validity now expire automatically^[15]. See Manakonline and ISI mark.

After grant, MeitY's surveillance unit at STPI asks manufacturers, AIRs and brands to register each R-number's models on crsbis.stpi.in^[20].

Each waste stream has its own CPCB system. E-waste runs on the "E-Waste Management System" at eprewaste.cpcb.gov.in^[8]; batteries use the "EPR Portal for Battery Waste Management" at eprbattery.cpcb.gov.in^[42], and plastic packaging used the centralised portal at eprplastic.cpcb.gov.in^[43]. CPCB is reported to have shut that plastic portal on 28 June 2026 and moved plastic EPR filing, with users' data, to the Common EPR Portal at epr.cpcb.gov.in, where registration is now mandatory^[44]. CPCB's single sign-on at epr.cpcb.gov.in is the common login for all its EPR portals^[42]. You cannot do business without the relevant registration, or deal with unregistered entities^[24].

Plastic EPR is the busiest: 62,175 PIBOs were registered by 25 June 2026, 52,935 of them importers^[48]. Full guide: CPCB EPR portal; documents in the EPR registration checklist.

New LMPC importer applications go through the National Single Window System, and amendments are handled on lm.doca.gov.in/pcr^[9]. The fee is Rs 500^[25]; an incomplete application comes back within seven working days^[25].

Since 2026, companies must name the director responsible for offences^[49] and update their details on the portal every year^[49]. See LMPC importer registration and LMPC registration cost.

You apply for WPC Equipment Type Approval. Saral Sanchar is DoT's portal for telecom and wireless applications^[10]; its old address now redirects to DoT's eServices page^[50]. After registering, you start an ETA from the WPC tab, choosing "Self Declaration"^[29], then enter the RF test report details and pay Rs 10,000 per model through Bharat Kosh^[26][51].

One trap: profile changes are easy only while no application is in process; after that they need scrutiny^[29]. Fix your company details first. Full guide: Saral Sanchar; compare WPC ETA vs MTCTE.

MTCTE. For notified telecom equipment, the Indian OEM or AIR registers, TEC scrutinises the documents online, and only then can applications be filed^[17]. The application lists the product, variants, Bill of Materials and manufacturing locations^[17], followed by test reports and the certificate^[17]. Fees go through BharatKosh and are non-refundable^[52]. Guide: MTCTE portal; fees in MTCTE cost.

BEE Star Label. Companies register under Login > Manufacturers > Register New Agency and receive a Reference ID^[18]. Each model is then registered as a new application with the sample label uploaded^[18], and production is uploaded quarterly so the portal can calculate label fees^[18]. Guide: BEE Star Label portal.

Most central fees go through Bharatkosh, the government's payment gateway; BIS and BEE use their own routes.

Identity mismatches and lost access cause most delays. The commonest problems and fixes:

• ICEGATE rejection. Unclear or unstamped licence copies or authorisation letters get registrations rejected^[3]. There is no online status tracker, so call or email the helpdesk^[3].
• Lost email on ICEGATE. The ID has to be deactivated and a fresh registration made^[3].
• ICEGATE upload limits. Colour scans in JPG or PDF, each under 1,500 KB^[3]; the draft is deleted if not submitted within 15 days^[3].
• DGFT uploads. PDF only, 5 MB maximum^[2], in English or Hindi^[1].
• CRS login refused. Missing or conflicting English translations of the factory's business licence are a frequent cause^[54]; see CRS rejections.
• MTCTE address field. Limited to 100 characters, and simultaneous logins are blocked^[30].
• BEE downtime. The portal is down every Tuesday and Thursday from 16:00 to 19:00^[12].

Use the official helpdesk first and keep the ticket number; consultants cannot see inside your account any better than you can.

If you would rather hand the portal work to someone, see our guides to BIS consultants, EPR consultants and WPC consultants, or ask us for a free compliance check. To see which portals your product needs, run the approval checker.